Rules of Test Twenty: Cricketâ€s Newest Format

Test Twenty is a recently launched cricket format that combines Twenty20 cricket with Test cricket. It was formally released on October 16, 2025, and is designed for players between the ages of 13 and 19. The first season will begin in January 2026 in India. 

Both teams bat twice, just like in a Test match, and the format consists of 80 overs in a single day split into four innings of 20 overs each. The matches will be played in whites with a red ball. Six teams, including three from India and three each from Dubai, London, and the USA, will compete in the first Test Twenty season. Eight Indian and eight international cricket players will make up each team’s 16 players. The first edition will be a boys-only tournament, with a girls†version planned from the second season onward.

The concept was developed by Gaurav Bahirvani, Executive Chairman of The One One Six Network. The advisory board includes cricket legends Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, AB de Villiers, and Harbhajan Singh. As of now, Test Twenty is not approved by the ICC. The International Cricket Council officially recognizes only Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

Rules of Test Twenty: Cricketâ€s Newest Format

Test Twenty is an 80-over format designed to combine the traditions of Test cricket with the excitement of T20Is. Each team plays two innings of 20 overs each, and the match is finished in a single day. Since the score from the first inning is carried over, the final score is the sum of the individual scores. Like traditional tests, there are four possible outcomes: win, lose, tie, or draw. If both teams end with equal totals, a Super Over decides the winner. However, if a batting team finishes its innings with five or more wickets remaining, it may choose a draw.

In this format, each team gets one power play, lasting four overs, which the captain can call at any time; if unused, it automatically activates between overs 7 and 10 of the second innings. A follow-on can be enforced if the second team trails by 75 runs or more after their first innings. If a team is bowled out before completing 10 overs in its first innings, the opposing team receives three additional overs. Only five bowlers may be used per side, and each can bowl a maximum of eight overs across both innings. 

In this format, T20 rules apply for wides and no-balls, but if a bowler concedes three or more in one over, a three-run penalty is added. A five-run penalty and loss of a timeout will be imposed in case of slow overrates. In case of a tie, the game goes into a Super Session (a one-over eliminator). If the result remains level, the team with more boundaries is declared the winner.

When will the inaugural Test Twenty begin?

The inaugural Test Twenty season will begin in January 2026. It will include six global franchises, three based in Indian cities and three international teams from Dubai, London, and the United States. Each team will have 16 players, made up of eight Indian and eight international players.

Player registration for cricketers aged 13 to 19 opened on October 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM IST on www.testwenty.com/register. The first season will be hosted in India and will feature only a boys†tournament, while a girls†edition will be introduced from the second season.

FAQs

Q. What is the Test Twenty format?
A. Test Twenty is cricketâ€s new fourth format that combines features of Test and T20 cricket. Each match has a total of 80 overs, and both teams bat twice for 20 overs each.

Q. How long does a Test Twenty match last?
A. It is completed in one day, with 80 overs played in total.

Q. How is Test Twenty different from regular T20 cricket?
A. Regular T20 has one inning of 20 overs per team, while Test Twenty has two innings of 20 overs each per side, making it a four-inning match.

Q. When will the Test Twenty format start?
A. The format is set to launch in January 2026.

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